Stewart Cink delivered a statement performance Sunday, overpowering the field to claim the Senior PGA Championship with a dominant six-shot victory. The win marks his first senior major title and continues a remarkable start to his PGA Tour Champions career, where he has quickly established himself as one of the circuit’s most consistent and dangerous players.
Starting the final round one shot off the lead at Concession Golf Club, Cink wasted little time shifting the tournament firmly in his favor. What began as a tightly contested leaderboard quickly turned into a showcase of control, confidence, and precision. By the time he made the turn, the outcome was already tilting heavily in his direction, and by the back nine, the suspense had all but disappeared.
“Today was just one of the best rounds I’ve played as a professional golfer,” Cink said. “It was just really good.”
A Defining Run Around the Turn
The turning point came during a blistering stretch that effectively broke the tournament open. Cink ignited his charge with an eagle on the par-5 seventh, a moment that flipped momentum and energized his round. He followed it up with consecutive birdies to close out the front nine, transforming a narrow deficit into a growing advantage.
If there were any lingering doubts, they vanished at the par-3 11th. Facing a lengthy uphill birdie putt, Cink delivered one of the defining shots of the day – a perfectly judged 35-footer that tracked beautifully before dropping into the cup. That sequence capped a stretch in which he played five-under over just a handful of holes, separating himself from the field in decisive fashion.
From there, it became less about chasing and more about maintaining. Cink continued to apply pressure with a birdie on the par-5 13th after a tidy up-and-down, followed by another on the 14th courtesy of a confident mid-range putt.
“I just kind of went back to a few basics and changed my philosophy on reading the greens just a hair,” Cink said. “Added some break today, actually.”
Field Left Playing for Position
While Cink surged, the rest of the field struggled to keep pace. Ben Crane produced a solid closing round to secure solo second, an impressive showing in his debut at the event. However, even a steady performance wasn’t enough to threaten the runaway leader.
Overnight leader Keith Horne found the final round far less forgiving. A costly double bogey on the 12th hole effectively ended his chances, as the gap widened beyond reach. Others, including Scott Hend and Steve Allan, finished in a tie for third but never mounted a serious challenge during the closing stretch.
Cink finished at 19-under for the tournament, narrowly missing the championship record relative to par, but leaving no doubt about his dominance.
A Resurgent Chapter in a Decorated Career
For Cink, this victory adds another significant chapter to a career that already includes a major championship triumph at the 2009 Open Championship. Now competing on the PGA Tour Champions, he appears rejuvenated, combining experience with a level of consistency that has made him a weekly contender.
Notably, he has yet to post a round over par in his first 16 rounds on the senior circuit – a testament to both his form and his adaptability. With three victories already this season, along with a runner-up finish and no result worse than a tie for sixth, his transition has been nothing short of seamless.
“To win a tournament like this, back to four rounds on a golf course like this, full field – this trophy is so heavy can hardly pick it up – it feels great,” Cink said. “It’s just validating what I’m doing with my team.”
Stewart Cink Delivers a Round to Remember at Senior PGA Championship